South Korea, Japan, China Open FTA Talks

Issued: March 01 2013

South Korea, Japan and China have started negotiations negotiations in Seoul in hopes of establishing a trilateral free trade agreement, according to media reports. The first round of negotiations is being attended by Koji Tsuruoka, Japan’s deputy foreign minister, who handles economic affairs; Yu Jianhua, China’s assistant commerce minister; and Choi Kyong Lim, South Korea’s assistant deputy trade, industry and energy minister.

A Japanese government official was quoted as saying that the countries hope to complete the negotiations in the next two to three years.

Japan, China and South Korea announced during a trade ministers’ meeting in Phnom Penh in November that the three countries would begin FTA negotiations, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.